97 600 XTC 1600 miles- Please help

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WildChild77

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Joined
Oct 25, 2006
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9
Age
47
Location
Wilmington, VT
This has been a great place to hear about what you are doing to sleds. I have a 97 XTC with low miles. I have not had the ability to ride for a long time until this year, so I am knocking the dust off and getting it ready to roll. I have ridden every year in Old forge, so It has been ridden, but mostly just once a year.

Long story short, I thought the sled was a bit boring. Great reliability, but a bear to turn and pokey on the straight away.

If you had $500-1000, what would my fellow yamaha riders do?

I was thinking new front ski's- any suggestions on what brands?

I know that the tracks have always been an issue Yokahama I think- so pick it (no pics now) or put a new one on (any idea of cost there)


I live in wilmington, VT now so I hope to be riding more.

Thanks in advance!
 
I have the same sled and have about that amount in upgrades and repairs into it.

The head gasket mod will wake it up in a hurry. I'm changing out the track to the tune of about $400 with the track being a take off sold on ebay for $250 and the rest being repair part costs like all new bearings and a few bushings.

Now your up to about $500 with these 2 projects.

Next try replacing the clutch springs. It is odd you get used to how it works as they wear out and after you replaced them both and the belt you are suprised how good it works suddenly.

Now your at $600.

New Ski's vary in price and is what I plan on next for my sled. $100 can get you a used set from ebay if your patient. $400 gets you the best. I'm sure we all have our favorites or what we would get if the price was no object. Hell I'd even thought about the aluminum set that CB carries. Kind of a waste unless your putting the rest of the sled on a diet.

Finally Picking the track. With out including labor you can see that just the initial cost of the picks, backers and protectors can run you $300 or so. No sense in going for stainless but 96 of your average Woodies gold diggers with nuts alone will run $197. Backers are another $50. Where and how you ride is the only way I know of to make the decision on if you want to stud it. I personally have only really wished I had them once in the past 5 years.

Good luck
 
Can you tell me a bit more about the head gasket upgrade- what it does, where you can get it, how much it costs etc. You need a special wrench and bolt pattern to take off the cylinder heads and back together again right? Should I have a dealer do that? I am not afraid to try anything, but I do not have the best garage setup.

(please no flame) but what bearings are you talking about- on the bogie wheels?

I have 1600 miles on the sled, but you think that the clutch spring should be replaced?

I agree with you about the pics- I like being able to slide around a turn. What track are you going with?

How about shocks? After 10 years should I repace the 3? I do not think that on the XTC you can recharge them. I see some Kimpex ones at Dennis Kirk-But brand ideas for replacements are apprecaiated. I will pull them off and make sure they are still ok and go from there.

Thanks again man for getting back to me. That is one of the best things aboug the sport... and the chicks of course.
 
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Sorry for the delay had a long day Friday.

The head gasket mod is the removal of 1 or 2 of the 3 layers of the metal head gasket. A new gasket should be purchased to do this with as it is not worth the risk reusing the old nead gasket. You drill out the pop rivet that secures the layers together and then re-assemble. Torque to 9 foot pounds then to 17 foot pounds starting in the middle of the head and working out in a circular pattern is fine. Should take about an hour. The head/block coolant drain is located right below the Y pipe on the front of the block.

Yes all the bogie bearings. The 20+ plastic bushings on the shafts and shocks. Inspect and replace while the skid is out for the track change. It is a lot easier then.

The 1600 miles is not the determining factor. The fact that the clutch has been squeezing on the springs for the last 9 years will effect the preload rating. They are not that expensive and if you have the primary removal tool it is an easy job.

I have the 1 inch Camoplast Predator. It is basically the 9830 model but is the Artic Cat's Quiet Drive model.

As far as shocks go. Somepeople believe that yearly serviceing is necessary. I have never done any service on mine. The beauty of the XTC is that Yamaha installed Aluminum re-buildable and adjustable shocks from the factory. If you want to you can have a shop service them. They are better off serviced than the new off brand replacements.

These are my opinions. Others may vary. There are quite a few guys here have or have had an XTC. Lean on us for your questions I am sure some one here has gone thru it.

C
 
shim the front end tight, install a 2.3 rate front track spring in the skid, venture sway bar, back all preload off the front springs. buy a set of viper or rx1 skis, install a set of firecat offset dualy carbides(you will need to drill one hole in the ski to do this. use the ones with the metal back on them). for a track, go with a 9830 camo with 168 carbides, outside patern. install either the polaris idlers or, the spacer kits to get the slides up a little, and install a small front wheel kit. 2in handlebar riser. then hold on, it will corner like its on rails, and hook up and stop.

as for the motor, ive never done a thing to one of those, im guessing they are underclutched like most sleds, there are probly clutch kits for it in the tech section for low dollar
 
Look on the tech page about the reed stop notch. It will also gain better throttle response on a twin. Maxdlx
 
Does anyone know the Part# for the thinner head gasket for a 97 600 twin?
I'm rebuilding mine & I don't remember what it was. I believe it was a stock gasket from an earlier year.
 
if you have an XTC the shocks should be rebuildable. They should be fine with only 1600 miles on them though. head gasket and do clutching from the tech page you can wake these sleds up quite a bit.

Vipers skis would be a cheap update, too. I'm putting a set on eBay tonight.
 
yamy07 said:
Does anyone know the Part# for the thinner head gasket for a 97 600 twin?
I'm rebuilding mine & I don't remember what it was. I believe it was a stock gasket from an earlier year.
Click to expand...
I thinks it a '95 head gasket, not sure. T
 
You guys are awsome. I went back as far as the forums allowed me to and realized that a good deal of this was brought up as well. I am going to some of the changes. I am worried that I will f things up if I change out the head gasket.
 
If done right there are no problems that arrise from thinning the gasket a bit. The 500 & 600 have a low compression. If your really worried just remove 1 layer and run higher octane fuel.
 
if you got steel ski's with plastic runners, they would be #1 on my priority list. get some plastic ski's. you can probably find sxr or srx style ski's for fairly cheap. it's a world of difference
 
BETHEVIPER... I thought the Viper ski's had shorter mounts which they compensated for in the taller Viper spindles. I tried throwing Viper ski's on my SX-r a couple years back and it dropped the front end (about 1") on me and threw everything off. am I wrong?
 
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I'll take a measurement tonight when I am over my parnets house. My Dad has an '02 Viper ER with pretty blue ski's on it. I think there is a height difference.
 
upgrades

I put a pair of SRX skis on my Vmax 600, made a huge difference! Port Yamaha has these skis for $200 on their specials page. I also upgraded the track, big difference there as well, really hooked up compared to the junk stock track. Bender used to sell a thin head gasket, others might as well. Ski mount and trailing arms are different on the Viper and Vmax.

Check out my auction on eBay for this sled, other modifications are listed there.

(fixed the link...Thx Fuzzbutt)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140047382384

eBay Auction

I also have a few Vmax items listed.
 
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I took the measurements. 1997 Vmax 600 XTC with stock steel ski's and 4" Woody's trail bars vs. 2002 Viper 700ER with stock plastic ski's with woody's dualies. They are as follows.

Ski height from bottom to center of bolt = 3 1/8 for Vmax, 2 5/8 for Viper
Spindle length from bottom to top of spindle = 7 1/2 for Vmax, ~ 9 3/4 for Viper
Total height from ground to top of spindle = 11 for Vmax, 11 for Viper

So it really seems the ski's are shorter by 1/2 an inch or so and the spindles are longer to compensate. Does it make a difference?
 
FuzzButt said:
So it really seems the ski's are shorter by 1/2 an inch or so and the spindles are longer to compensate. Does it make a difference?
Click to expand...

Yes it is a significant difference. Sxr or Srx style skis will bolt right on and wont change the geometry of the front end vs. rear. If you wanted to use Viper ski's, you would have to change trailing arms.
 
There are several head gaskets you can use. I have the thinnest one which is 6mm. The part number is 8CA-11181-00-XX.
Check with the dealer but I think there is a 8mm and one more even thicker.
Just remember it will increase the compression, (mine went up to 140) so you should use higher octane fuel.
Let's see, what else have I done?
Reed notches
Bender can
Fine tuning the carbs, needle settings, etc.
Clutching, check the tech section. There are some setups you might want to try. :letitsnow
 
Awsome thanks again.

How often are you guys flushing the collant system? Is that an easy thing to do.

At this point I am going to swap out the skiis(other then what is above any ski's that people are using?), have the dealer clean carbs replace the clutch spring, debating to either have dealer install a hacksaw or attempt to swap out the track myself. I had about 500-900 to work with and that will take me to the 900 space.

I want to replace the head gasket, but I do not want it to take from the reliablity of the machine..

Anyone know where I can buy the service book that will walk me through some of these things?

We are starting to get snow will getta working!

EDIT- Called bender (their site is down) got a clutch kit and the head gasket upgrade after talking with someone there. I will probably order a pair of USI Skiis. If I can get the scratch together I may buy a new track, but I may wait a few months to do that. (Thanks again guys for the help!)
 
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